Telephone pay-station.



G. A. LONG.

'TELEPHONE PAY STATION. APPLICATION FILED FMLN, 1912.

' Patented 001;. 14, 1913.

@ZW megs;

n novelty and advantage, going will be set Vforthatlength in the folv n sfrafis sarna rca.

GEoRGE-a-LONG, or HARTFORD, coNNEC'iICUT, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE GRAY TELEPHONE -rfAY sTATroN eo-ivirANxcr HARTFRD, CQNNEOTIGUT,

NECTGUT.

Specification' of Letters Patent.

A' CORPORATION 0F CON TELEPHONE i PAYLsTATIoN.

Fatentcdctfi, 1913.

'To all whom, t may concern Be it known that LI, GEORGE A. LoNG,'a

citizen of the United States, residingat Hartford, in the -county of Hartford andi State of Connectici'ia'have invented certainr new and useful Improvements in `'Telephonei 'Pay-Stations, of which the following is a;

specification. f

This invention relates to telephone pay* stations.

A telephone pay station involving my invention preferably includes in its make -up,;

a signal which'inay be of any suitable kind?` tor to indicate to lier that toll has vbeeng paid or'some equivalent necessary act performed. The signal to which I have'f alluded may be operated many .suitable way, although I prefer that this be do-ne byl the person at the vcalling station or the individual who uses the pay station.

u One of the-primary objects of the inven-g tion is to provide means for preventing the operationl of the signal until 'toll for 'a 'message fhasbeen paid.

'The devicepossesses'many other features of'. which with the'fore:

lowing description' ,wherein -I` will outlineg in detail one of the many 'forms of'embodiment of my invention, this showing being' provided to'enable those skilled in the arti to practice the invention. lFrom this it will be evident that I do not restrictm self to.y such showing; I may depart there rom in several. respects -witliin the scope of the in- L venti'on set forth in the claims following .said description. In the organization thus shown, as soon as a coin has been intro duced into the -machine the signal mechay nism :may be released and operated. Inj

addition to 'this I provide lfor several calls; for one coin or it may be for a group of coins or for a given amount of money.

rlhe ordinary minimum charge `for an outgoing local call is `five cents. I vprovide forv receiving a coin or coins of any denomination or enominations and to give 1n return saine. inclosed by the casing, and, Fig. Lis a front E cessible eXteriorly ofsaid casing. be added that the plunger 9 is advanced, tp effect the action of -supported by the fork M 'of an arm '1 4' g 'the register to thereby operate said register for/'the amount a specific number of calls.

In the present instance the machine is adapted to receive a twenty-five cent piece, and the person who inserts such coin into the machine will be entitled to five calls, although this will depend altogether on custom.

Referring to .the drawings: Figure 1 isa front elevation partly in section, of a telephone pay station involving-my invention.

21s a vertical sectional viewy of the Fig 3. isa view of the mechanism elevation of an indicator,

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the vseveral iigures, which it will be perceived are on dilferentscales.

The different parts of the device arepreferably vhoused'in a suitable casing such as that denoted in a lgeneral way by 5, and to which is connected the telephone transmitter 6, after the usual fashion in this art. As already intimated the signal may be off any suitable kind; that shown is denoted -in a general way by 7 and consists of a gong vin resonant connection with the said trans- 'mitten suitable manner for example by the'harnmer rIfliis gong may be struckin any plunger 9 a hole or to be ac- It migh t 8 on the y'forward stroke of the which plunger vextends through perforationin 'the casing so as the 'hammer 8 bythe user of'the station and that itis retracted by hammer Iare inclosed in the casing, .'bein'g i the bracket 1:1.. This 'bracket 1l also carriesa register or counter 12,'t'lie plunger 9 'having a lateral projection 13 :a coiled spring 1 0 which with the gong' and adapted to enter between the branches 0f l' connected with on each forward movement ofthe plunger or equivalent manually-operable member.

On the forward motion of the plunger 9 .the hammer 8 is 'first swung out and then freed, at which point `the operating spring for said hammer moves the latter quickly against the gong 7 4It is not a matter of importance as :to .what the denomination of the coin or coins is, the object in the construction shown b en ingto introduce into .the machine a certain amount of money which prepays for acertain number of calls, and although it is con- Y receive a. twenty-five cent piece. The means \`for receiving a coin or coins may vary as to construction, although that shown and now, to be described answers thenecessary conditions. In the casing 5 there are 'two cooperating members such as l5 and 16 which are adapted to be coupled by a coin or its equivalent, the part 15 serving to operate certain devices within the casing as will hereinafter appear, while the'part 16 is directly operable by the user of the machine. Unlessa coin is employed to couple these two parts the part 15 4cannot be -operated -when the part 16 is, a coinbeing necessary to effectlsuch action. The parts 15 and 16 might be aptly considered as skeleton cylinders, the casing 5 having interiorly thereof, means for rotatively supporting the outer cylinder 16,v the inner cylinder 15 being fitted within the said outer` cylinder, and both having slots which normally register to receive the coin 17 which -is adapted to bel sustained temporarily by av rest as 18 LCarried by the outer cylinder. AI runway as 19 leads to the normally registering slotsl in the parts l5 and '16 and from a slot 19 in one side of the casing 5. It ,will be supposed that a coin is introduced into this runway. When it is, it travels down the same and enl ters the registering slots in the parts 15 and 16 thereby coupling said parts together so that they can be moved as one, by operating in the present case, the outer cylinder or barrel 16 which latter it will be observed has an outwardly extending stud 20 supported for rocking motion in a bearing constituting partof the casing 5. Said stud is shown equipped with a handle or lever 21 by which the same can be conveniently operated and which bears normally against a stop 22 on the casing at which time the slots of the two parts 15 and 16 coincide'. The inner cylinder 15 is shown provided with an inwardly extending .stud or pivot 23, the casing 5 interiorly thereof being prof vided with a bearing for supporting said stud 23 for turning movement. -It follows that when the parts 15 and 16 are coupled together by acoin and that when the arm 21 is swung down or otherwise operated, to impart a half turn to the outer cylinder or barrel 16, the inner barrel 15 is given a corresponding movement, and when the half turn has been completed the coin 17 will drop from the two parts into the usual coin box 24 in the bottom portion of the casing 5. v

r1`he machinepreferably includes indicating means which in the present case shows both the amount of money that is in the machineand also the number of calls to which a subscriber may be entitled, although neither or both is essential. Although said indicating means may be of any convenient kind it is shown as comprising an indicating member such as 25 graduated from zero to 60, each graduation representing five cents or one call. In connection with the indicating member is a pointer or linger 26, the shank of which extends through and moves longitudinally ofregistering slots 27 in the indicating member 25 and casing 5 respectively being connected with a Acarriage as 28 which in the present case has a movement transversely of the casing 5, being preferably operated as will hereinafter appear, in one direction through t-he primary agency of the plunger 9 or its equivalent, and in the other direction through the primary agency of the coin-controlled mechanism to which I have already alluded or in some similar manner. As shown this carriage is supported by parallel shafts 29 and 30 sustained by suitable bearings in the casing and extendingl transversely thereof, the

shaft 29 being shown as a screw while the shaft 30 is plain. Connected rigidly with the said carriage 28, is a nut 31 in engagement with the threaded portion ofthe screw shaft 29, said lnut fitting an opening in the carrier 28 and being held in place by the nut 32. rIhe holding nut32 engages the feed nut 31 at one end thereof, said feed nut having at the opposite end the pinion 33. From this it will be clear that when the feed nut 31 is moved longitudinally of the shaft .29 by rotating the latter, the carriage 28 will be similarly operated and at the same time will move longitudinally of the parallel supporting and guide shaft 30. In the construction shown the pinion 33 is in mesh with the gear 34 splined to the shaft 30 and the hub of which fits in the upper portion of the said carriage 28 and is held in placeJ by the nut 35. Pinned or otherwise suitably connected with the stud 23 is a gear 36 in mesh with the pinion 37 fastened suitably to one end of the shaft 38 supported by bear'- ings in the casing 5. This shaft 38 also carries the gear 39' in mesh with the pinion 40 on one end of the' screw Vshaft 29. Suitably fastened to the shaft 30 is a ratchet wheel 4-1 engageable by the 4pa'wl 42 plvotally carried by the rocker 43 loosely carried `by the vshaft 30. To the rocker is shown loosely connected the arm 44 fastened in some sultlable manner to the rock shaft 45 to which is also rigidly connected the arml'46 connected by `a loose joint to the inner 'end of the p unger or equivalent member 9.

It will be assumed thata twenty-ve'cent4 piece `17 hasbeen inserted in the machine and is resting on the support 18, and that the members 15 and 16 are, therefore, coupled together by such coin. In this event said parts 15 and 16 can be operated as one by the handle 21, and on such movement the said parts 15 and 16 will be given a half rotation and when they are inverted the quarter 17 will gravitate vtherefrom and thereby uncouple said parts. It will be understood that although the inner cylinder has a continuous step-by-step movement always in the same direction, the outer cylinder is capable simply of a half turn being limited by the stop 21 already described and the companion stop 21. On' the turning of the inner cylinder 15 the stud 23 is given a similar movement, and the screw shaft 29 through the interposed gearing already described is correspondingly moved whereby the carriage 28 will be advanced or as shown, moved to the right in Figs. 1 and 3. If prior to the operation already described the pointery 26 was opposite zero on the indicating member or scale 25, said pointer at the conclusion of said operation would be opposite the five mark. If a second quarter were introduced the pointer through the movement of the carriage and the parts already described, would be carried to the ten mark on the pointer and so on, so that if twelve quarters were employed the pointer would finally be opposite the sixty mark, indicatingv that $3.00 was in the machine, and in such a case the carriage 28 would be shifted` to the eXtreme advanced position and would remain in this position or in any intermediate advanced position until the signal 7 was operated on making a call.

It will be assumed that coin is in the machine and that a call, is to be made. In making a call the central office operator requires the subscriber to operate the signal, and before the signal can be operated it is necessary to thrust the plunger 9 rearward. On such motion of the plunger the pawl 42 through the intermediate described parts is moved one step thereby imparting a corresponding movement to the ratchet wheel 41 and therefore rotating the shaft 30. On said movement of said hence the gear 33 and nut 31 will be similarly operated and therefore the carriage 28, the latter being retracted or drawn backward one step and consequently moving the pointer 26 from a higher toward a lower number on the scale 25. If the pointer happened to be opposite the five mark on the scale, the same would be moved opposite the four mark on said scale when the operation just described was concluded. It will be assumed that there is twenty-five cents in the machine. When each call is made the carriage 28 is retracted one step, and when the ve calls have been made the gear 34 will be brought shaft the gear 34 and` so as to retract said nut 31' substantially and solidly against the hub of the gear 41 so as thereby to edectually lock the ratchet 41 against movement and therefore prevent the plunger 9 from being moved to effect the operation of the signal 7, it being necessary to insert a coin before the signal mechanism can be operated.

I have described in detail the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, which is highly advantageous. I wish to make it clear that I can depart from this construction in many respects. I may if desired provide means for handling coins of different denominations.

Although the counter or register 12 is desirable, it like certain other parts already described, may in some cases be omit-ted and in similar manner equivalents may beem- 4 ployed instead of certain of the members already described within the scope of my invention. A register or counter, however, is advantageous in that a check is had upon the subscriber, so that the subscriber must of necessity pay for the calls which have been registered notwithstanding the fact that a slug or slugs may have been used in obtaining one or more of such calls.

What I claim is:

1. A telephone pay station comprising a signal, means for locking said signal against action, an indicator, manually operable means .for releasing said signal and for also operating said indicator, and independent manually operable means for also operating said indicator.

2. A telephone pay station comprising a telephone transmitter, an audible signal to transmit sounds through said transmitter, means for locking said signal against action, an indicator, manually operable means for releasing said signal and for also operating said indicator, and independent manually operable means for also operating said indicator.

3. A telephone pay station comprising a signal, means for normally preventing action of said signal, an indicating device, manually operable means for moving said indicating device in one direction and for also releasing said signal, and independent manually operable means for moving said indicating device in the opposite direction.

4. A .telephone pay station comprising a signal, an indicating device, manually operable means for moving said indicating device in one direction, and independent manually -operable means for moving said'indicating device in the opposite direction, one of said manually operable means being adapted to effect the action of said signal.

5. A telephone pay station lcomprising a signal, means for normally preventing action of the signal, an indicating device, manually operable means for advancing said indicating device and for also releasing the signal,

' cat-ing device in the opposite direction.

n moving .said carriage in one. direction, and

shaft in the opposite direction, connected with said carriage.

-erating the signal, and .operatively 'connect-l signal .for operating the latter.

resonant connection .with said transmitteig,

the opposite directionfsaid and independent` manually .operable ineansfor -retracting said indicating .device and for also effecting the operation of Lsaid signal.

6. A vtelephone pay station comprising a telephone transmitter, an audible signal in cooperative relation with said telephone v transmitter, au indicating device, manually operable means for moving said indicatingdevice in one direction, and .means for .op.4

ed with said indicating device for moving the same ,in the opposite. direction.

7. A telephone pay station comprising a signal, an indicating device, and independ-v ent manually operable means for im arting' separate movements .to said 'indicating .de-s vice, and one of them connected with the 8. A telephone pay station comprising a telephone transmitter, an audible signal in 4 an indicating device, signalloper'ati mech-I, anism provided withmeans for ymoving said indlcating device in one direction, and manually operable means for moving lsaid indi- 9.`A telephone pay station comprising a signal, indicating means manually operable means' for operating ,the said Iindicating means in one direction, and signaloperating means for movingA said indicatin means in the ov posite direction, said in icating means being adapted also when in one posi-A tion to prevent the action of the signal.

10. Avtelephone pay station comprisinga signal, an'indicating device, manually operable means for operating said indica-ting de-` vice in one direction, .and signal operating means for moving Asaid indicating device in indicating device having means adapted when' the same is in one position, to prevent the action of said signal operating means 11. A telephone pay station' comprisi a signal, a ,travelA carriage provided with a pointer, manuallllf operable mechanism for signal operating for ynioiring said direction.

ft2-A telephone pay 4station comprisin a signal, a traveling carriage provided wit a screw, rotary shaft in engagement with. said screw, means for turning saidshaft in one direction, independent meansl for operating thesignal andv for also turning said,4 and `a pointer;

mechanism having means carriage in the opposite 13. A telephone pay lstation comprising a signal and a casing provided with-a scale, ya pointer in cooperative relation with said scale, signal -operating'mechanism provided with means forr operating said pointer in one direction, and manually operable means for moving said pointer in the other .direction.

14. Atelephone `pay station comprising a signal, indicating means including a scale, and a pointer, one of which is movable with .respect to the other, manually operable lmeans for shifting vthe relatively movable memberl of the indicating means in one direction, and signal .operating mechanism provided with means for moving said relatively vmovable member in the opposite direction. 15. A telephone pay station comprising a signal, a pair of shafts, one of which is in the. form of a screw, a .carriage supported for movement `by said shafts and having a `nut in vengagement with the screw shaft, manually operable means for rotating the screw shaft, and signal operating means for rotating the companion shaft, the two shafts being intergeared.

16. A telephone pay station comprising a signal, a pair of shafts,I one of which 1s in the 'form ofva screw,l a carriage supported by Said shafts and havin a nut engageable by the screw shaft, manua y operable means for rotating said screw shafts, signal operating mechanism provided with means 1ncluding a {pawl and ratchet for rotating the companion shaft, the .two shafts being intergeared, and .indicating means comprising -a movable member riagc.

` 17. Atelephone pay statlon comprising a supported by said cartelephone transmitter, an audible signal in'.

resonant connection with said transmitter, i`

a manually ,operable device providedy .with means for sounding said signal, a pa-ir of shafts one of which is a screw shaft, a carriage supported for traveling movement by said shafts7 the shafts being intergeared,

manually operable means for rotating thescrew shaft, a ratchet wheel fastened to the companion shaft, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, and means lactuated by said manually operable member for moving the paWl to operate said ratchet wheel.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- GEORGE A. LONG.

Witnesses:

EDGAR S. BLAIR,

CHARLES DoBY. 

